COLLOQUIUM
Department of Computer Science and Engineering
University of South Carolina
 
Computer Modeling of Radio-frequency Ablation

Dieter Haemmerich

Department of Surgery
University of Wisconsin

Date: February 27, 2004 (Friday)
Time: 3:30-4:30PM
Place: Swearingen 1A03 (Faculty Lounge)

Abstract

Radio-frequency (RF) ablation is a minimally invasive treatment method
of liver cancer, a very common form of cancer. Classic surgery is the
standard method of treatment, but it is only possible in 10-20% of the
patients due to unfavorable tumor location and surgical risk. The most
widely used treatment method of liver cancer in the world is RF
ablation. A catheter is introduced into the tumor either during open
surgery, laparoscopy or through a small incision in the
skin. Electrical current is applied to the catheter, and the cancer
tissue is heated up and destroyed once temperature reaches around
50°C. A drawback of RF ablation is the high local recurrence rate of
around 30%. Computer models can show current shortcomings of RF
ablation, assist in evaluating improved devices, and help the
physician in planning the treatment. I will present Finite Element
Method (FEM) computer models of RF ablation. In these models the
electrical and thermal differential equations are solved. The end
results are the temperature distribution and the electrical current
density distribution in the tissue. I will show how the models lead to
improved devices, how the models were verified, and what is needed to
make them more accurate.

Dieter Haemmerich is an Assistant Scientist in the Department of
Surgery at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.  He received
M.S. degrees in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the Technical
University of Vienna, Austria, and in Biomedical Engineering from the
University of Wisconsin, in 1998 and 2000, respectively, the
Ph.D. degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of
Wisconsin in 2001, and the Dr.Sci. degree in Electrical and Computer
Engineering from the Technical University of Vienna in 2003.
Dr. Haemmerich’s research is in the fields of medical
instrumentation and biomedical computing, with special emphasis on
radio-frequency ablation and its application to the treatment of liver
cancer.